I have a favour to ask our whole group about supporting Arts for Social Change work in Vancouver. Vanessa Richards (if you don't know her, check her out...incredible woman) has led a community choir for the past year, called Woodwards Communiy Singers, to make space for the DTES community and new residents to Woodwards to sing together in order to get to know each other and lessen the tensions in the neighborhood.
I attended her choir all last year, and it was one of the most memorable and empowering arts based community group I have been a part of. I promised myself that if the choir was ever in danger of being shut down, I would do what I could to see that it survived.
This summer, Vanessa lost her funding from SFU. Rather than charging the singers for attending (something that would be against the values of this inclusive choir) or searching for grant funding, we have decided to run a fundrasing campaign. (This is really interesting considering my comment in class about finding alternative funding models to grant writing!) Here is where we are at:
Our ideal goal of $12,334.80 for:
- Choir Director,
- Visiting Choir Directors,
- PHS Mental Health Support Worker,
- Coffee/snacks,
- Photo copies
- Promotional flyers.
$2750 - raised by Woodward's Community Singers - CONFIRMED
$5000 - from SFU - CONFIRMED
$7750 - Total Raised - CONFIRMED
PHS makes the rehearsal space available to us at no cost. - CONFIRMED
$4584.80 - NEEDED.
To donate, or to send the online donation site to a potential funder, here is the link:
http://www.givemeaning.com/project/woodwardssingers
I am writing you because you are all well connected in different areas of the Lower Mainland. Can you suggest some organizations that might be willing to donate some money to this kind of choir? I will write them with the request, I just need to know who to ask.
Thanks for your support from Vanessa, the choir, and I.
Happy Holidays,
Josh
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Of note: WRTN/SPKN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMFrNjH1SSQ
Anna Camilleri recently shared this video and post - I though it might be of note since several people in our class mentioned working with high school students - it also raises issues about bullying and brings focus to work with LGBTQ youth...
She writes: "I recently completed a residency with the Triangle Program, and I'm writing to ask for your support with spreading the word about the project and video. WRTN/SPKN is a short video (5 min 13 sec) that features creative work that emerged from a story writing and story telling project that took place at the Triangle Program—Canada's only high school for LGBTQ youth. For several weeks, we experimented with voice and form, and the relationship between the written and spoken, and visually explored word. Throughout our creative process, students were encouraged to claim their place as storytellers and experts in their own experience. Our work together culminated in the production and presentation of individual zines.
Students gave me permission to photograph their work, and develop WRTN/SPKN, a video that anthologizes their zines. There was consensus amongst the students that the video should be distributed and available online as an educational tool. Triangle students particularly want to reach out to other youth who have been or are being bullied at school—and those who can make a big difference: school boards and trustees, school administrators, educators, and guidance counselors.
Many students said that if it weren’t for the Triangle Program, they wouldn’t be in school. Triangle students recognize education as a right for all students, and that lack of safety reduces access to education for LGBTQ students, and many other students for a variety of systemic reasons. Triangle students would like their stories and creative work to contribute to change for all youth who are struggling with safety and acceptance."
—Anna Camilleri, artist educator
Anna Camilleri recently shared this video and post - I though it might be of note since several people in our class mentioned working with high school students - it also raises issues about bullying and brings focus to work with LGBTQ youth...
She writes: "I recently completed a residency with the Triangle Program, and I'm writing to ask for your support with spreading the word about the project and video. WRTN/SPKN is a short video (5 min 13 sec) that features creative work that emerged from a story writing and story telling project that took place at the Triangle Program—Canada's only high school for LGBTQ youth. For several weeks, we experimented with voice and form, and the relationship between the written and spoken, and visually explored word. Throughout our creative process, students were encouraged to claim their place as storytellers and experts in their own experience. Our work together culminated in the production and presentation of individual zines.
Students gave me permission to photograph their work, and develop WRTN/SPKN, a video that anthologizes their zines. There was consensus amongst the students that the video should be distributed and available online as an educational tool. Triangle students particularly want to reach out to other youth who have been or are being bullied at school—and those who can make a big difference: school boards and trustees, school administrators, educators, and guidance counselors.
Many students said that if it weren’t for the Triangle Program, they wouldn’t be in school. Triangle students recognize education as a right for all students, and that lack of safety reduces access to education for LGBTQ students, and many other students for a variety of systemic reasons. Triangle students would like their stories and creative work to contribute to change for all youth who are struggling with safety and acceptance."
—Anna Camilleri, artist educator
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